Fired Lee Co. whistleblowers suing county

Three former Economic Development employees filed a federal lawsuit against the Lee County Board of Commissioners Monday, claiming they were wrongly fired for being whistleblowers.

The county fired long time staff members Eileen Schuman, John Brock and Susan Noe last fall, after they cooperated with an internal audit that revealed problems in the department.

The lawsuit claims former Economic Development Director Jim Moore was "asked to retire" following the audit's release in August, but before he left, the lawsuit states "Moore proposed eliminating the positions of those on staff who spoke with the internal auditors."

The audit, commissioned by the Lee County Clerk of Courts, found fault with the economic development office's vetting of VR Labs.

Lee County awarded the start up nearly $5 million on the promise it would create 208 jobs, but it has fallen short of reaching benchmarks.

An audit report also concluded a "Lee is Lending Program" loan to the marketing company owned by former Economic Development Marketing Manager Jennifer Berg's husband, as well as Lee County business routed to his company "appear to be in violation of Florida statute."

The plaintiffs join former Administrative Specialist Lisa Wagner, who filed a separate lawsuit in January.

"This has now become a pattern of practice within Lee County to retaliate against whistle blowers. This goes department-wide within the county," said Wagner's attorney Benjamin Yormak. "These four individuals did the right thing, and unfortunately Lee County has done exactly the wrong thing in terminating them."

The former employees seek reinstatement of their jobs, lost wages, and money damages.

"Ultimately it's going to come out of the taxpayer's pocket," Yormak said.

A spokesperson for the Lee County Attorney's Office declined to comment, noting the county has not yet received the lawsuit. Attorney Geralyn Noonan, who is representing the plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit, also declined to comment.